Sunnyside Project helps disabled Lower Providence man keep his home

Interior of Christopher Galeassi's home before neighbors began work on it to fix it up. Submitted by Patricia Durdeen.

LOWER PROVIDENCE — The “Sunnyside Project” started in a dark place.

Christopher Galeassi’s home was falling down around him.

A water pipe broke more than a year ago. He’d never been able to get it fixed, at least partially because he’d also been struck by a car while crossing a road after grocery shopping last year.

Several weeks ago, with his house falling down around him, Galeassi’s health had declined to the point that his across-the-street neighbor was on the verge of kidnapping him to bring him to the hospital.

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“I was going to take him,” said Jamie Bellis. “I was just going to throw him in my truck.”

A woman who had been helping take care of Galeassi had fallen ill and was hospitalized, a situation that created even more concern for his well-being, neighbors said. Galeassi has diabetes and must walk with two canes, his neighbors said. Bellis recognized gangrene developing in Galeassi’s feet as a result of his diabetes.

“If we didn’t take him to the hospital, he would have died,” Bellis said. “I really believe that.”

What finally convinced Galeassi was Bellis’ wife, Barbara. She overheard a conversation between Bellis and Galeassi and expressed, loud enough that Galeassi could hear, that he needed to go.

“He heard her in the background,” Bellis said. “He said, ‘Well, if she says I should go, then I should go.’”

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Galeassi was taken to Pottstown Memorial Medical Center, where doctors had to amputate parts of his feet.

Kiki was taken to a vet for a full check-up and will remain in foster care while Galeassi recovers.

Concerns about Galeassi’s trailer home led to an inspection by Lower Providence’s codes department.

Since he hadn’t had running water for so long and his health was declining, conditions inside the house were found to be dangerously unsanitary. Additionally, the home’s roof was collapsing, among other structural issues.

“It was just hanging down,” neighbor Denise Senk said of the ceiling inside. “He had to walk around crouched down.”

June 6, the property was condemned due to the condition it was in.

“We felt it was a pretty severe situation,” said Mike Mrozinski, community development coordinator in Lower Providence, who said the property was brought to their attention by neighbors. “We felt we needed to (post a notice) because of health and safety issues.”

Around then, Galeassi’s neighbors began to step in to create a solution.

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In the ensuing weeks since Galeassi’s hospitalization and the condemnation of his trailer home, dozens of neighbors from the Sunnyside Mobile Home Park have volunteered time, effort and supplies toward fixing up the property.

Durdeen and her husband, Kerry, are two of the neighbors who have taken an active role, even though they really didn’t know Galeassi until recently.

“A lot of people helping him right now have never met him,” Kerry said. “They say, ‘Wow, this is happening? What can we do to help?’”

Last Sunday, as some were working on installing a new roof, other neighbors were dropping off food and supplies, coming every 20 minutes or so in the afternoon at one point.

Individuals have also donated furniture and appliances to Galeassi for his newly-finished home.

“They may not all be new,” Kerry said of the donations. “(But) they’re new to him.”

Some have appealed for donations from their own employers. Kerry secured electrical wiring from Comcast. Another who works at Home Depot got a $500 donation toward supplies. Lowe’s contributed $250.

Area eateries have contributed food to feed those laboring at the site.

The businesses which have helped out, many of them local, are too many to list.

“It’s amazing. It’s overwhelming,” Senk said.

Patricia, who uses a wheelchair, said that since she can’t do physical work on the house, she’s quarterbacked the social media side. Through her efforts, many of the donations have come in.

Almost as quickly as someone identifies needs for Galeassi’s home, someone else comes through with the supplies.

Lower Providence’s codes department plans to re-inspect the property and has been trying to work with the volunteers on moving forward.

“We’re working with all the parties involved,” Mrozinski said. “We’re trying to make sure that health and safety is preserved not only for (Galeassi) but also for the community.”

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“We call this the Sunnyside Project,” Senk said.

The collection of efforts is named after the mobile home community where most of the volunteers live and where Galeassi’s home stands, but it could also be a reflection of the way a common cause has pulled so many together.

“Before, people were always fighting (and) didn’t know each other,” Senk said. “Now, everyone has come together for this.”

Galeassi, who could not be reached for an interview, was apparently not known very well by many in his neighborhood before his hospitalization. However, he’s become a unifier in his community.

“We were talking to a police officer on Friday night and he was like, ‘(We’re) usually here once a week breaking up a fight,’ and now all these people are all here, together,” Senk said.

“We’re coming together to help him,” Patricia said.

Senk said that this effort is also showing the true character of their community.

“When you hear about a trailer park, you usually don’t think of something like this,” she said. “But look at us. Look at what we’re accomplishing.”

Several people have asked Senk why they’re doing what they’re doing.

“Because it’s the right thing to do,” she answers.

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Galeassi remains hospitalized for the foreseeable future, but efforts to help have not stopped at construction on his home.

Patricia Durdeen and Denise Senk said they’re working through Pottstown Memorial Medical Center’s social worker to get him signed up for Meals on Wheels and physical rehabilitation.

There are plans to frame a letterman’s sweater Galeassi has, Senk said. They’ve already framed a photo of Kiki and given it to him to keep in the hospital.

Once he’s back home, neighbors plan to check on Galeassi, too.

“We’re not going to do his house then abandon him,” Kerry said.

Efforts are ongoing. Construction continues on the home almost every day. By all accounts, though, everyone involved feels they’re better for it.

“Chris did it, whether he knows it or not,” Senk said. “We tried to do something for him and he ended up helping us out.”

A bake sale/donation drop-off point is being held 9 a.m. Saturday at 2901 W. Ridge Pike in the Eagleville section of Lower Providence. Those interested in making donations can also reach Trish Durdeen at zookeeper74@comcast.net.

CORRECTION: Christopher Galeassi was incorrectly identified as being a Vietnam veteran in the original version of this story. Galeassi has never served in the military.

About the Author

Frank Otto is a general assignment reporter covering Phoenixville, Limerick and Spring-Ford schools in addition to features and spot news. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Otto moonlights with the sports department on occasion. Reach the author at fotto@pottsmerc.com
or follow Frank on Twitter: @fottojourno.